Tube and rod gauging apparatus



June 5, 1956 A. F. CASLER ET AL 2,748,937

TUBE AND ROD GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1952 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Inventors:

v Adrien F. Casler fig Benngird AZimmerman Their Attorney June 5, 1956A. F. CASLER ET AL 2,748,937

TUBE AND ROD GAUGING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Inventors: Adrien F Cesler Bernard A Zimmerman b y W0 Their AttorneyJune 5, 1956 A. F. CASLER ET AL 2348337 TUBE AND ROD GAUGING APPARATUSFiled March 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors: Adrien F Casler BernardAZimmerman byde/ gf /M Their Attorney United States Patent TUBE AND RODGAUGING APPARATUS Adrien F. Casler, Chardou, and Bernard A. Zimmerman,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application March 3, 1952, Serial No. 274,622

Claims. (Cl. 209-88) Our invention relates to apparatus for drawing andr for gauging vitreous tubing or rod and having in combination therewithapparatus for severing said tubing or rod into lengths and for selectinglengths in accordance with the gauged size of the tubing or rod.

One object of our invention is to provide apparatus for gauging theoutside diameter of vitreous tubing or rod while it is being drawn, asfor instance by drawing apparatus such as that disclosed in DannerPatent 1,218,598 dated March 6, 1917. In accordance with this object thesize of the tubing or rod is determined at the moment of its fabricationwith the result that an immediate adjustment of the drawing apparatuscan be made to compensate for variations in said tubing or rod and amuch narrower size range of tubing or rod can be made withoutdifiiculty. The apparatus also facilitates the manufacture of lessoff-size tubingor rod and the ready adjustment of the proper combinationof temperature, drawing speed and other factors contributing to themaking of the proper size and the best quality of tubing or rod.

Another object of our invention is to provide gauging apparatus suitedto continuous operation during the course of movement of vitreous tubingor rod being drawn from a furnace, the apparatus being adapted tosensitive operation because of, inter alia, its ability to float withchanges in the position of the tubing 01' rod. The apparatus is alsoconstructed in a manner to prevent its being damaged by large inclusionsin the tubing or rod and causing it to maintain its accurate alignmentand operative function under the relatively dirty and, accordingly,rapid Wear producing conditions of its use.

Another object of our invention is to provide in combination withapparatus for drawing tubing and rod and thereafter severing said tubingor rod into lengths, apparatus for gauging said tubing and rod and inthe course of the final operations thereof, selecting and segregatinglengths of said tubing or rod comprised of ofi-size portions. Furtheraspects of this object are to provide means in said apparatus wherebythe lengths into which the tubing or rod is severed can be varied atwill and whereby said apparatus can operate in the same mannerregardless of the length being severed. It is also desirable that thegauging apparatus cause the marking of off-size portions of tubing orrod since such oifsize portions can often be cut from tubing or rod ofproper size in a salvage operation.

Still other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a species thereof and from theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of apparatuscomprising our invention and including continuous drawing and severingapparatus for vitreous tubing or rod; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspectiveviews taken from the front and back, respectively, of gauging apparatus;Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the memory device of the apparatus withportions of the housing and associated ICC parts broken away andseparated to more clearly show their relation; Fig. 5 is an end view ofthe selecting apparatus of the combination; and Fig. 6 is a wiringdiagram of the electrical portions of the apparatus.

The combination of apparatus of our invention illustrated in the drawingis,,as shown in Fig. 1, arranged along the path of movement of vitreoustubing 1 being pulled from a tube-forming furnace (not shown) by thetractor chains 2 and 3 of drawing apparatus of the type disclosed inDanner Patent 1,218,598, dated March 6, 1917. Further movement of thetubing 1 advances it to severing apparatus 4 which may be, for instance,of the type shown in Brown et a1. Patent 2,120,853 dated June 14, 1934,where said tubing 1 is cut into uniform lengths 1'. The gaugingapparatus 5 is located just ahead of the tractor chains 2 and 3 in saidcourse of movement of the vitreous tubing and has the function ofdetermining whether said vitreous tubing 1 is larger or smaller than orwithin a predetermined acceptable size range, and of lighting the properone of the signal lights 6, 7, and 8 to indicate the class into whichthe tubing 1 falls. The gauging apparatus also causes the marking means9 to make a mark on the tubing 1 if it is either over or under theacceptable size range and of causing the selecting apparatus 10 tosegregate such lengths of the tubing 1 as comprise off-size portions.Because of the spaced relation of the gauging and selecting portions 5and 10 of the apparatus, a memory device 11, driven by a common drive(not shown) for the tractor chains 2 and 3 and severing apparatus 4, isprovided to cause the measurements of the gauging apparatus 5 to effectactuating of the selecting apparatus 10 in proper synchronism with themovements of said tubing 1.

Referring to the details of the apparatus, and more particularly to thegauging apparatus 5 (Figs. 2 and 3), the latter is comprised ofstationary and movable gauge rolls 12 and 13, respectively, arranged tobear against bottom and top portions, respectively, of the tubing 1 at apoint just ahead of the tractor chains 2 and 3 of tubing and rod drawingapparatus. Both gauge rolls 12 and 13 are mounted upon the frame 14 ofthe gauging apparatus and are kept in alignment with the tubing 1,regardless of any vertical fluctuation in the position thereof, by theflexibility of the metal spring leaves 15 and 16 which mount saidgauging apparatus upon a support column 17 on the base plate 18. Thespring leaves 15 and 16 extend from angle bars 19, attached to lower andupper corners of the frame 14, to collars 20, attached to a sleeve 21surrounding the upper end of the support column 17, and are onlyrequired to keep the gauging apparatus in proper alignment with thecourse of movement of the tubing 1 inasmuch as the weight thereof iscarried by a helical spring 22 extending between a post on the lowerangle bar 19 to coupling 23 on a lip of the upper collar 20 on thesleeve 21. Plates 24 fastened to opposite sides of mid-portions of theleaf springs 15 and 16 serve to stiffen them transversely so that theyare not as readily subject to a twisting influence which would alter thetrue rolling position of the rolls 12 and 13 with relation to thetubing 1. However, means are provided in the free turning sleeve 21 onthe upper end of the column 17 for allowing the gauging apparatus to beswung around the support column 17 to a position out of operativerelation to the tubing 1 if desired. The vertical position of theapparatus is determined by a collar 25 on the support column 17 andforming a rest for the lower end of the sleeve 21, whereas, the rotativeposition thereof with respect to said column 17 is determined by theengagement of the rounded end of a spring pressed slug 26 retained bysaid collar 25 and engaging a depression in the periphery of the sleeve21.

The vitreous tubing 1 being measured by the apparatus passes freelybetween the lower gauge roll 12 on a spindle 28 attached directly to theframe 14 and the upper roll 13 on a spindle 29 extending from a plate 30located within vertical guideways established by four rollers 31 atspaced points along said frame 14. V edges along the vertical sides ofthe plate 30 fit into correspondingly shaped grooves in the rollers 31and that combination provides an extremely rigid mounting for the upperroll 13 which is only very slightly affected by the Wear between theplate 39 and the rollers 31 and which prevents twisting and deviationfrom the true vertical gauging movement. The pressure of engagement ofthe roll 13 against the tubing 1 is produced by the com bined weight ofthe plate 30 and the other parts attached thereto and is sutficient tocause the roll 13 to follow all variations in said tubing 1 and at thesame time actuate a control means of said apparatus which for the mostpart is located upon the back of the frame 14. Variations in the tubingI produce a corresponding movement of the plate 30 and result in theactuation of the control switches 32 and 33 in that a correspondingmovement of a bracket 34, extending through an opening in the frame 14from the back of the plate 30, and movements of the heads of the screws35 and 36, on wings of said bracket 34, press against the controlbuttons 37 and 38 of said switches 32 and 33.

The gauging or measuring functions of the apparatus are based upon thefinding of off-size portions of the tubing 1 which are either smaller orlarger than an acceptable size range and is dependent upon the operationof switch 32 when the tubing 1 is found to be smaller than this rangeand the operation of switch 33 when the tubing 1 is found to be largerthan said range. This selective operation of the switches 32 and 33results from a difference in the elevation of the screws 35 and 36 inthe bracket 34 inasmuch as said switches 32 and 33, which arecorrespondingly mounted upon a cross bar 39, are held at fixed positionsduring the gauging of any one size of tubing 1. A screw 40 and key 41fix the position and orientation of the cross bar 39 along a verticalsupport rod 42 on brackets 43 and 44 at the back of frame 14 and allowthe cross bar 39 and the switches 32 and 33 to be readily adjusted toanother relation to the bracket 34 and operating screws 35 and 36 shouldit be desirable \(0 gauge a different nominal size of tubing 1. Underany of these conditions of operation, the cross bar 34 and the operatingscrews 35 and 36 are at positions to allow the switch 32 to take itsnormal open position and the switch 33 to be retained at an abnormalopen position when the tubing 1 being gauged is within the selected sizerange. At such times and as shown in the diagram in Fig. 6, theindicator lamp 7 is in operation because of circuit connections directlyto one side 45 of the electric current supply and through the lead 46,normally closed contacts of relay 47, lead 48, normally closed contactsof relay 49 and lead 50 to the other side 51 of said electric currentsupply. No other operations are dependent upon the gauging apparatusunder these condi tions and the operation of the center lamp 7 of thethree lamps 6, 7, and 8 on the panel board 52 over the tractor chains 2and 3 indicate proper functioning of the entire drawing operation.

The advance of a portion of the tubing 1 smaller than the acceptablesize range causes the cross bar 34 and the operating screws 35 and 36 tobe lowered so that the operating screw 35 trips the switch 32 to anabnormal closed position causing the indicator lamp 8 to operate and therelay 49 to break the circuit to indicator lamp 7. Under theseconditions, a circuit is made from the switch 32, which is connecteddirectly to one side 51 of the current supply, through lead 53 to thelamp 8 which is similarly connected-to the opposite side 45 of saidsupply. A circuit is also established from lead 53 to the relay 49 whichis attachedto the side 45 of the current supply by lead 54 and theresulting operation of the relay 49 causes the circuit to the lamp 7 tobe broken between leads 48 and 50. A further function of the gaugingapparatus occurs under these conditions as the relay 49 also completes acircuit from lead 50 to lead 54 and effects thereby a controllingfunction over means 9 for marking the off-size tubing 1 and acontrolling function over a memory device 11 which in turn causes theoil-size tubing 1 to be subsequently segregated.

The advance of a portion of the tubing 1 larger than the acceptable sizerange causes the cross bar 34 and the operating screws 35 and 36 to beraised above their usual position so that the screw 36 allows the switch33 to return to its normally closed position and thereby causes theindicator lamp 6 to operate and causes the circuit to indicator lamp 7to be broken. The switch 33 effects operation of the lamp 6 bycompleting a circuit from the current supply lead 51 to said lamp 6through the lead 55 and breaks the circuit to the lamp 7 by completing acircuit from the current supply lead 51 to the relay 47 through the lead56 so that said relay 47 is actuated and interrupts the circuit betweenleads 46 and 48. The relay 47 is permanently connected to the othercurrent supply lead 45 by the lead 57 and, like relay 49, also completesa circuit adapted to effect control over the tubing marking and tubingselecting apparatus of the present combination. The control circuitcompleted 'by the relay 47 at this time comprises the lead 58 which isconnected to the current supply lead 51 and the lead 54.

The discovery of oversize or undersize portions of the tubing 1, whichhas resulted in the operation of one or the other of the indicator lamps6 and 8, effects operation of other portions of the apparatus by meansof the control circuit in par-t represented by the lead 54. One portionof said apparatus actuated in this manner is the tube marking means 9which is located relatively near the gauge rolls 12 and 13 and fartheralong the course of movement of the tubing 1. The tube marking means 9is mounted upon an arm 60 extending from the support column 17 at aposition which enables the sharp edge of the hammer 61 to be broughtagainst the tubing 1 immediately after it has passed from between :thegauge rolls 12 and 13 to score or chip lines across the tubing 1 whenthe solenoid vibrator 62 forces said hammer 61 thereagainst. As shown inFig. 6, the solenoid vibrator 62 is connected directly to the currentsupply lead 45 through lead 63 and through lead 64, lead 54 and eitherlead 50 or 58 (depending upon whether the tubing 1 is undersize oroversize and relay 49 or 47 is actuated) to the current supply lead 51.The lag in the operation of the marking means 9 after the off-sizetubing 1 is engaged by the gauge rolls 12 and 13 permits said olT-sizetubing 1 to travel to the marking means 9 before said means is operatedand has the efiect of timing the marking of the tubing 1 with theadvance thereof.

The control circuit (lead 54) also has the function of causing theoff-size tubing 1 to register in the memory device 11 so that it, inturn, can effect operation of the selecting means 10 and the segregationof said off-size tubing 1 when said tubing 1 has advanced farther alongits course of movement to operative relation to said selecting means 10.The control circuit is effective only when oversize or undersize tubing1 causes relay 47 or 49 to connect it to the current supply lead 51 andexercises its control of the memory device 11. in the same way,regardless of the off-size condition, by completing a circuit to the twocorresponding secondary control circuits associated with said device 11which circuits are represented by the leads 65-66, time control switches6768, the registering solenoids 69-70 and the leads 7172. Each secondarycontrol circuit in turn is capable of effecting registration of off-sizetubing 1 in a respective portion of the memory device 11 and in thecombination provide a means whereby an interrupted cycle of registeringis readily set up and more accurate and flexible modes of operation. areobtainable. The time control switches 67 and 68, which are mountedopposite respective earns 73 and 74 (Fig. 4) on the main drive shaft 75of the memory device 11, assume control over the respective registeringmeans of the memory device 11 alternately inasmuch as said cams 73 and74 extend around directly opposite portions of said main drive shaft 75and accordingly provide non-overlapping periods of control.

In the usual manner of operating said apparatus, the active periods ofthe memory device 11 are synchronized with the separation of the tubing1 into lengths by the severing means 4 and cover the period when all butthe end portion of said lengths pass between the gauge rolls 12 and 13.Such operation is effected because the cams 73 and 74 each have aneffective length (high portion) of less than 180 by virtue of thetapered ends 73 and 74, respectively. This manner of operation causesthe functions of the memory device to skip the portions of the tubing 1finally appearing as the ends of each length and prevents these endportions from being controlling as to Whether said length comprises anoff-size portion and will be segregated. This manner of operation ispreferred as the size of the ends of the lengths of tubing 1 is of noconsequence as said ends are trimmed from the lengths or are reformed toa different shape in the final product, such as the reduced necks of thetubular envelopes for fluorescent lamps for instance.

The operation of the memory device 11 is timed to the advance of thetubing 1 by the drive provided in a chain (not shown) engaging thesprocket 76 on the main drive shaft 75 of the memory device 11 and thecommon driving apparatus (not shown) of the tractor chains 12 and 13 andthe severing apparatus 4. This means turns the main drive shaft 75 atthe rate of one revolution for each two lengths of tubing 1 formed bythe severing apparatus 4 and may, for instance, advance one end of thecam 73 into engagement with the roller on the operating arm 77 of thetotally enclosed switch 67 very shortly after a portion of said tubing 1representative of an end of the length passes between the gauge rolls 12and 13. If the control circuit, in part represented by the lead 54, isactive because of an off-size portion of the tubing 1 between the gaugerolls 12 and 13, the secondary control circuit including said switch 67will be completed thereby and the registering solenoid 69 will displaceone of the six registry pins 78 in the memory wheel 79 toward the centerof the device 11. The solenoid 69 effects displacement of a pin 78 bymeans of the bell crank 80 which is pivoted upon a pin 81 carried bybracket 82, also furnishing support for said solenoid 69, and turns saidbell crank 80 by means of an interconnecting link 83 so that the lowerarm thereof pushes against the head end 84 of said pin 78. This sameaction will result if an off-size portion is,

engaged at any time during the entire interval the gauge rolls 12 and 13are engaging a portion of the same length of the tubing 1 and willdisplace a single pin 78 in the memory wheel 79 from the position wherethe head end 84 is against the stationary ring 85 on the housing 86 to aposition where said head end 84 bears against the memory wheel 79. Whenthe tubing 1 advances to such an extent that the portion of the tubing 1which is to form this first-mentioned length passes from between gaugerolls 12 and 13, the cam 73 has turned beyond the roller on theactuating arm 77 for the timing switch 67 and the secondary circuitcontrolled thereby is rendered inoperative.

The advance of the succeeding portion of the tubing 1 which isrepresentative of the next length to be severed therefrom advances thecam 74 into engagement with the roller on the operating arm 87 of thenormally open timing switch 68 so that said switch 68 and theregistering circuit controlled thereby is closed. This particularregistering circuit effects operation of the solenoid 70 which in turncauses one of the pins 78' in a memory wheel 79' to be displaced towardthe center of the memory device 11 by actuation of means correspondingto that associated 6 with the other secondary control circuit andindicated with corresponding primed numbers.

Because the secondary control circuits are operated alternately atregularly occurring intervals, the pins 78 and 78 in the memory wheels79 and 79' are not directly opposite each other but are spaced midwaybetween each other so that the constant rotation of said memory wheels79 and 79, which are on opposite ends of a sleeve 88 keyed to the shaft89 and said pins 78 and 78' are aligned with the bell cranks and 80' atrespective intervals. The six pins 78 and 78' in each of the memorywheels 79 and 79', require said wheels and the shaft 89 to be turned atone sixth the speed of the drive shaft 75 by the interconnecting gears90 and 91 in order to provide a continuously repeated cycle ofoperation. Exact synchronization of the memory device 11 with theadvance of the tubing 1 and the formation of lengths therefrom isprovided for by having the timing cams 73 and 74 mounted upon a commonhub 92 adjustably attached by the bolts 93 to an end flange on a sleeve94 keyed to the drive shaft 75. The skip interval during which bothsecondary control circuits are inoperative, on the other hand isdetermined by the shape of the cam-s 73 and 74 and the adjusted positionof the control arms 77 and 87 for the switches 67 and 68 which aremounted upon a bracket 95 extending from the housing 86 surrounding thememory wheels 79 and 79' and the other parts of said memory device 11.

The result of the registration of off-size tubing 1 in the memory device11 is not received until the tubing 1 has advanced beyond the tractorchains 2 and 3 (which are preferably the type disclosed in Danner Patent1,218,598 dated March 6, 1917) and from engagement with severing means 4(which is preferably the type disclosed in Brown et al. patent 2,120,583dated June 14, 1938). At that time, said tubing 1 passes over the bed ofthe selecting means 10 and the wheels 79 and 79 of the memory device 11have rotated sufliciently to cause the pins 78 and 78, representing thatparticular portion of said tubing 1, to be at positions to effectoperation of said selecting means 10. The tubing 1 as shown in Figs. 1and 5 advances to a position directly over the center mounted shaft 101for deflector 102 at the time the severing operation is complete and thelength 1 formed therefrom drops by its own weight toward the deflector102. If the preceding length 1' has been of proper size and the presentlength 1 is also of proper size (as is the usual conditions ofoperation), said length 1 will fall onto the left hand (Fig. 5) slope103 of the deflector 102 and roll down the inclined rails 104 to thestorage means (not shown). If, on the other hand, the length 1 of tubingdropping toward the deflector 102 is off-size, said deflector 102 willtilt to the left due to rotation of the shaft 101, and said length 1will fall onto the right hand slope 105 and roll down the inclined rails106 to other storage means (not shown).

The position of the deflector 102 is under the control of solenoids 107and 108 connected to opposite sides of the rocker arm 109 on thedeflector support shaft 101 and is not shifted from left to right or inthe reverse direction unless the proper pin 78 or 78 in wheels 79 and 79of the memory device 11 is positioned so as to effect completion of theproper electrical circuits to said solenoids 107 and 108. Thepresentation of the length 1 of tub ing to the selector device 11 issynchronized with the advance of one of the pins 78 or 78 to operativerelation to one or another of two duplicate control switches 110 or 110'(only one appearing in Fig. 4) adjacent the path of rotation of thememory wheels 79 and 79. This presentation of a length 1' of tubingresults in a shift in position of the deflector 102 when the pin 78 or78 representing that length 1 is at a different position than thepreceding pin 78 or 78'. If the presently considered length 1' of tubingis off-size, the pin 78 or 78 representing said or 79' where the shankthereof engages the roller on the control pin 111 or 111 of the switch110 or 110 during the rotation of said memory wheel 79 or 79' and forcessaid control pin 111 or 111 down so that said normally open switch 110or 110 is closed. As shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 6, the length 1'of tubing can be represented by either pin 78 or 78 with the same resultsince switches 110 and 110 are connected to the supply lead 51 by leads112 and 112', respectively, and through leads 113 and 114 to thedeflector operating solenoid 107. The interlock circuit formed by theswitch 115 and the leads 116 and 117 and connecting the solenoid 107 tothe sup-- ply lead 45 prevents the operation of the solenoid 107 whenthe deflector 102 is already tilted to the left as said switch 115 (Fig.is shifted to an abnormal open position by the presence of the raisedportion of a cam 118 on the deflector support shaft 101 behind thecontrol pin 119 of said switch 115. The pins 73 and 78, representing alength 1 of tubing of proper size and, accordingly, not displaced towardthe center of the memory device 11, pass to one side of the control pins111 and 111' and do not therefore operate the switches 110 and 110 whichcontrol the tilting of the deflector 102. However, the deflector 102may, at such times, be at a tilted to-the-left position because thepreceding length 1 of tubing had been off-size and will be tilted backto the right by the operation of the solenoid 108 which is under thecontrol of a circuit comprised of the normally open time switch 120,opposite the cam 121 on the drive shaft 75 of the memory device 11, andthe normally closed interlock switch 122 opposite the cam 123 on thesupport shaft 101. The switches 120 and 122 and the leads 124, 125, 126,and 127 form the circuit connections from the solenoid 108 to the supplyleads and 51 and provide for the operation of said solenoid 103 eachtime a length 1 of tubing advances over the selecting means 10 inasmuchas the cam 121 has opposite reduced portions 128 and 123 for operatingthe switch 120 at the proper intervals.

Means are also provided in the memory device 11 for adjusting the timingof the right-to-left tilt or discarding operation of the deflector 102of the selecting means 10 in that a change in the longitudinal size ofthe lengths 1 of tubing and in the speed of operation of the drawingapparatus require that suitable compensation be provided for in theoperation of said selecting means 10. This adjustment is made byadvancing or retracting the switches 110 and 110 controlling saidoperation along the circular path of movement of the pins 78 and 78 andis performed by rotating the ring gear 130, to which said switches 110and 110 are attached by the brackets 131' (only one bracket showing)within the recess in the partition 132 of the housing 86 of the memorydevice 11 in which it is held by the ring 133. An external cross bar 134on a shaft 135 extending to a train of gears 136 and 137 in a pocket inthe housing 86 and in part formed by said partition 132 permit the readyrotation of the ring gear 130, whereas a dial 138 on said shaft 135 andthe fixed pointer 139 indicate the amount of adjustment that has beenmade.

All portions of the apparatus are adapted to continuous operation;however, the memory device requires all pins 78 and 78' in the memorywheels 79 and 79 to be correspondingly arranged therein at the time theyagain pass into position to register off-size tubing 1. Therearrangement of the pins 78 and 78 occurs when the rotation of thememory wheels 79 and 79' carries said pins 78 and 78' to positions wherethe extending ends of the displaced pins 78 and 78 slide across thesloping faces of the cams 141 and 141', respectively, attached to thering gear 130 and are forced back thereby to the position where the headend thereof slides along the faces of the sta tionary rings 85 and 85.

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construction and arrangement of parts shown, but that they maybe widely modified within the spirit and scope of our invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod comprisingseparable rolls engaging opposite sides of said tubing or rod andcontrol means adapted to be actuated upon separation of the rolls eithera greater or lesser amount than a predetermined acceptable range due tothe presence of off-size portions of the tubing or rod between saidrolls, selecting apparatus located at a position below and further alongthe path of movement of the tubing or rod and comprising rails extendingto opposite sides and sloping downward from a position below said path,and a movable deflector having downward sloping side portions andmounted for lateral movement to positions over the juncture of saidrails whereby lengths of the tubing or rod fall onto one side portionand roll onto the rails at one side thereof at one position and wherebysaid lengths fall onto the other side portion and roll onto the rails atthe other side thereof at another position, and a memory devicecomprising memory means, means controlled by the said control means ofthe gauging apparatus for registering in the memory device the presenceof an ofl-size portion of said tubing or rod in engagement with saidgauging apparatus, and means actuated by the memory means at asubsequent interval and effecting movement of the deflector means of theselecting apparatus for directing lengths of tubing or rod comprised ofoff-size portions to the same one side of said rails.

2. In combination with apparatus for severing tubing or rod into lengthsduring the course of movement thereof, apparatus for gauging the tubingor rod comprising separable rolls engaging opposite sides of said tubingor rod and control means adapted to be actuated upon separation of therolls either a greater or lesser amount than a predetermined acceptablerange due to the presence of off-size portions of the tubing or rodbetween said rolls, selecting apparatus located in position to receivelengths cut from said tubing or rod by the severing apparatus andincluding means for directing said lengths to either of two paths ofmovement, and a memory device comprising memory means having registrymembers advanced to operative positions in synchronism with the advanceof uniform lengths of the tubing or rod through the severing apparatus,means controlled by the said control means of the gauging apparatus forregistering in a said registry member at an operative position thepresence of off-size portions of a length of said tubing or rod inengagement with the gauging apparatus, means for rendering the lastmentioned means operative during only a selected portion of the period aregistry member is located at the operative position and a selectedportion of a length of said tubing or rod is in engagement with thegauging apparatus, and means actuated by the memory means at the propersubsequent interval and effecting operation of the selecting apparatusfor causing the lengths of tubing or rod comprised of ofi-size portionsto be directed to a given one of said paths of movement.

3. In combination with apparatus for severing tubing or rod into lengthsduring the course of movement thereof, apparatus for gauging the tubingor rod comprising separable rolls engaging opposite sides of said tubingor rod and control means adapted to be actuated upon separation of therolls either a greater or a lesser amount than a predeterminedacceptable range due to the presence of off-size portions of the tubingor rod between said rolls, selecting apparatus located in position toreceive lengths cut from said tubing or rod by the severing apparatusand including means for directing said lengths to either of two paths ofmovement, and a memory device comprising memory pins, a pair of memorywheels each mounting the pins at uniformly spaced intervals about theaxis of rotation and midway between the pins of the other wheel and eachrotatable in synchronism with the operation of the severing apparatus,displacing means including a member located at one position about eachmemory wheel and controlled by the said control means of the gaugingapparatus for displacing a memory pin at said position to register anoff-size portion of the tubing or rod engaged by the gauging apparatus,means operated in synchronism with the severing apparatus for causingthe displacing means adjacent each memory wheel to be alternatelyactuated by the advance of successive lengths of off-size tubing or rodinto engagement with the gauging apparatus, and means including a memberlocated adjacent each memory wheel at the position therearound which isreached by each of the pins at the end of the timed interval duringwhich the portion of the tubing represented thereby is advancing to theselecting apparatus for effecting operation thereof to cause the lengthof tubing or rod comprised of said ofl-size portion to be directed toone of said paths of movement.

4. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod comprising a pairof spaced separable rolls, mounting means for holding the rolls againstopposite portions of the tubing or rod with one roll mounted formovement relatively to the other roll, control means having respectivecooperating portions supported from the movable roll and the mountingmeans and adapted to be actuated upon either a greater or a lesserseparation of the rolls than a predetermined acceptable range due to thepresence of off-size portions of the tubing or rod between said rolls,and flexible support means for holding the mounting means and permittinglimited motion thereof transversely of the tubing or rod to cause therolls to float with variations in the position of the tubing or rod,selecting apparatus located in position to receive lengths cut from saidtubing or rod and including means for directing said lengths to eitherof two paths of movement, and a memory device comprising memory means,means controlled by the said control means of the gauging apparatus forregistering in the memory means the presence of an olfsize portion ofsaid tubing or rod in engagement with said gauging apparatus, and meansactuated by the memory means at a subsequent interval and effectingoperation of the selecting apparatus for causing lengths of tubing orrod comprised of off-size portions to be directed to a given one of saidpaths of movement.

5. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod and comprising apair of spaced separable rolls having parallel axes of rotation,mounting means for holding the rolls against opposite portions of thetubing or rod with their axes horizontal and with one roll mounted forvertical movement relatively to the other roll, control means havingrespective cooperating portions supported from the movable roll and themounting means and adapted to be actuated upon either a greater or alesser separation of the rolls than a predetermined acceptable range dueto the presence of off-size portions of the tubing or rod between saidrolls, and horizontally positioned flat spring leaves for holding themounting means and permitting limited vertical motion thereof to causethe rolls to float with vertical changes in position of the tubing orrod, selecting apparatus located in position to receive lengths cut fromsaid tubing or rod and including means for directing said lengths toeither of two paths of movement, and a memory device comprising memorymeans, means controlled by the said control means of the gaugingapparatus for registering in the memory means the presence of anoff-size portion of said tubing or rod in engagement with saidapparatus, and means actuated by the memory means at a subsequentinterval and eifecting operation of the selection apparatus for causinglengths of tubing or rod comprised of off-size portions to be directedto a given one of said paths of movement.

6. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod and comprising apair of spaced rolls having parallel axes of rotation and adapted toengage opposite portions of 10 the tubing or rod, a frame for holdingone of said rolls, a plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of theother roll for mounting said roll, means on said frame for guiding theplate in a direction of movement permitting said rolls to move closertogether or farther apart, control means including cooperating membersmounted respectively upon the frame and the plate and adapted to beactuated upon separation of the rolls either a greater or lesser amountthan a predetermined acceptable range due to the presence of off-sizeportions of the tubing or rod bet\ een said rolls for determiningdeviations in the size thereof, and flexible support means for holdingthe frame and permitting limited motion thereof laterally of the tubingor rod to cause the rolls to float With variations in the position ofthe tubing or rod, selecting apparatus located in position to receivelengths cut from said tubing or rod and including means for directingsaid lengths to either of two paths of movement, and a memory devicecomprising memory means, means controlled by the said control means ofthe gauging apparatus for registering in the memory means the presenceof an off-size portion of said tubing or rod in engagement with saidapparatus, and means actuated by the memory means at a subsequentinterval and effecting operation of the selecting apparatus for causinglengths of tubing or rod comprised of off-size portions to be directedto a given one of said paths of movement.

7. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod comprising a pairof spaced rolls having parallel axes of rotation and adapted to engageopposite portions of the tubing or rod, a frame for holding one of saidrolls, a plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of the other roll formounting said roll, means on said frame for guiding the plate in adirection of movement permitting said rolls to move closer together orfarther apart, control means including cooperating members mountedrespectively upon the frame and the plate and adapted to be actuatedupon separation of the rolls either a greater or a lesser amount than apredetermined acceptable range due to the presence of off-size portionsof the tubing or rod between said rolls for determining deviations inthe size thereof, and support means for holding the frame at a fixedrelation to the path of movement of the tubing or rod, selectingapparatus located .in position to receive lengths cut from said tubingor rod and including means for directing said lengths to either of twopaths of movement, and a memory device comprising memory means, meanscontrolled by the said control means of the gauging apparatus forregistering in the memory means the presence of an off-size portion ofsaid tubing or rod in engagement with said apparatus, and means actuatedby the memory means at a subsequent interval and effecting operation ofthe selecting apparatus for causing lengths of tubing or rod comprisedof off-size portions to be directed to a given one of said paths ofmovement.

8. In combination, apparatus for gauging tubing or rod and comprising apair of spaced rolls having parallel axes of rotation and adapted toengage opposite portions of the tubing or rod, a frame for holding oneof said rolls, a plate carrying the other roll and arrangedperpendicular to the axis thereof and having opposite parallel sides,spaced guide rollers mounted upon the frame and having groovedperipheries engaging the said parallel sides of the plate forrestricting said plate to a direction of movement allowing the rolls tomove closer together or farther apart, support means for holding theframe at a fixed relation to the path of movement of the tubing or rod,and control means including cooperating members mounted respectivelyupon the frame and the plate and adapted to be actuated upon separationof the rolls either a greater or lesser amount than a predeterminedacceptable range due to the presence of portions of the tubing or rodbetween said rolls for determining deviations in the size thereof,selecting apparatus located in position to receive lengths cut from saidtubing or rod and including means for directing said lengths to eitherof two paths of movement, and a memory device comprising memory means,means controlled by the said control means of the gauging apparatus forregistering in the memory means the presence of an off-size portion ofsaid tubing or rod in engagement with said apparatus, and means actuatedby the memory means at a subsequent interval and effecting operation ofthe selecting apparatus for causing lengths of tubing or rod comprisedof off-size portions to be directed to a given one of said paths ofmovement.

9. In combination, apparatus located along the course of movement oftubing or rod for gauging the tubing or rod comprising a pair of spacedrolls having parallel horizontal axes of rotation and adapted to engageopposite sides of the tubing or rod, a frame for holding one of saidrolls, a plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of the other roll formounting said roll and having opposite parallel edges, guide rollersmounted upon the frame and having grooved peripheries engaging spacedportions of the parallel edges of the plate for restricting said plateto a direction of movement allowing the rolls to move closer together orfarther apart, a fixed support member, horizontally positioned flatspring leaves joining the frame and the fixed support member forpermitting limited vertical motion of the frame to cause the rolls tofloat with vertical changes in position of the tubing or rod, meansconnected between the frame and the fixed support means for counterbalancing the weight of said frame and portions of the gauging apparatusattached thereto, control means including cooperating members mountedrespectively upon the frame and the plate and adapted to be actuatedupon separation of the rolls either a greater or lesser amount than apredetermined acceptable range due to the presence of off-size portionsof the tubing or rod between said rolls for determining deviations inthe size thereof, selecting apparatus located in position to receivelengths cut from the tubing or rod and including means for directingsaid lengths to either of two paths of movement, and a memory devicecomprising memory means, means controlled by the said control means forregistering in the memory means the presence of an off-size portion ofsaid tubing or rod in engagement with the gauging apparatus, and meansactuated by the memory means at a subsequent interval for effectingoperation of the selecting apparatus for causing lengths of tubing orrod comprised of ofi-size portions to be directed to a given one of saidpaths of movement.

10. The combination with means for severing continuously moving tubingor rod into lengths, means for gauging the tubing or rod comprisingseparable members engaging opposite sides thereof and control meansadapted to be actuated upon separation of said members either a greateror a lesser amount than a predetermined acceptable range by the presenceof off-size tubing or rod between said members, and selecting meanslocated to receive lengths cut from said tubing or rod and includingmeans for directing said lengths to either of two paths of move ment, ofa memory device comprising a wheel driven in synchronism with saidsevering means and having thereon a plurality of shiftable pins spacedabout the axis of rotation of said wheel, displacing means including asolenoid actuated member located at one position adjacent said wheel andcontrolled by said control means of the gauging means for displacing apin at said position to register an off-size portion of the tubing orrod engaged by the gauging means, means including adjustable cam membersand associated switches controlled thereby and operated in synchronismwith the severing apparatus for causing said displacing means to beactuated by successive lengths of off-size tubing or rod, said cam meansbeing shaped and arranged to render actuation of said displacing meanseffective during the gauging of a predetermined portion only of eachlength of tubing or rod, and means including a switch member at aposition about said wheel in the path of shifted pins and operablethereby to control operation of said selecting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,115,351 Terry et al Apr. 26, 1938 2,120,853 Brown et al. June 14, 19382,217,342 Ladrach Oct. 8, 1940 2,293,500 Fox Aug. 18, 1942 2,312,357Odquist et al Mar. 2, 1943 2,363,577 Dexter Nov. 28, 1944 2,438,448Morton et al Mar. 23, 1948 2,569,564 Gulliet Oct. 2, 1951 2,570,288 ToddOct. 9, 1951

